- PDP said Makinde’s “Operation Wetie” remarks were a warning, not a call to violence
- The party accused the APC and Federal Government of deliberately misinterpreting his speech
- APC criticised the remarks and dismissed the opposition summit as politically ineffective
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defended comments made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, referencing the historical Operation Wetie crisis, insisting they were intended as a warning rather than a call to violence.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party accused the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately misinterpreting the governor’s remarks.
Makinde had made the comments while hosting the Opposition Political Parties National Summit in Ibadan on Saturday, an event attended by prominent opposition figures and focused on strategies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the PDP, the governor’s reference to the violent political episode in Nigeria’s old Western Region was meant to highlight the dangers of political excesses and poor governance.
“The use of history in the way and manner done by Governor Makinde served as a caution and advisory to the Federal Government, the APC, and other national institutions,” the statement said. It added that only those with “guilty intent” would interpret the remarks as a threat.
The party argued that Makinde’s speech underscored how unchecked political ambition, public frustration and governance failures could combine to trigger unrest if not addressed responsibly.
It further claimed that current political developments bear similarities to past crises, alleging that the circumstances leading to the “Operation Wetie” violence are being replicated in today’s political climate.
“The events that led to the sad incident of ‘wetie’ and the current happenings within the political space… are not just similar but identical in both intent and execution,” the statement added.
The PDP also accused the APC-led administration of fostering what it described as authoritarian tendencies, warning against a drift towards a one-party system. It maintained that opposition parties would continue to pursue lawful means to resist any such development.
In addition, the party criticised the ruling party’s response, arguing that the APC lacked the moral authority to condemn Makinde’s remarks. It referenced past statements made when the APC was in opposition, claiming they included more direct threats of unrest.
However, the APC in Oyo State dismissed the PDP’s position and criticised participants at the Ibadan summit. In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party described the opposition gathering as ineffective and incapable of mounting a serious political challenge.
“They are just wasting their time,” the statement read, adding that the opposition could not match the ruling party’s political strength.
Sadare also cautioned against Makinde’s comments, stating that references to “Operation Wetie” would not be taken lightly, even as he expressed confidence that the 2027 elections would not be marred by violence.
The Ibadan summit has further intensified political exchanges between the ruling party and opposition groups, as both sides position themselves ahead of the next general election cycle.